Winter { A TMNT Fan Fiction }

33. Late Night Talks

I didn't know what time it was, and frankly, I didn't want to know what time it was. All I know is that I woke up however long ago to my heart feeling like it was going to leap out of my chest, and my head throbbing. Everything in the Lair was quiet, and the only light in the whole place was coming from Don's computer screens from across the room. Obviously it was the middle of the night, and I was obviously the only one awake.

I huffed and rested my head back down on the armrest for the millionth time, leaving my eyes open to stare up at the far away ceiling that I could barely see. I kept my eyes open as long as I could bear, but the pounding in my head got stronger and stronger that I resulted in squeezing my eyes shut.

Naturally, that made the headache worse. And  I was stuck with small tears leaking their way down my cheeks.

Oh my god, how can this hurt that much? I groaned in my head. I'm such a wimp.

Letting out a sigh, I slowly sat myself up after I forced my eyes open again. A wave of dizziness and nausea washed over me, and I brought a hand to the side of my head, my fingers pressing against the bandages there.

What can get rid of this pain?

"Ice, ice works." I muttered to myself. It was my only option because I didn't know where the boys kept the medication in this place.

As I took a deep breath and prepared myself for the long walk to the kitchen, I failed to notice the figure standing behind the couch.

Well, that is, until it spoke.

"What'ch'a doin' mutterin' about ice for?" Raphael's voice made me jump, and that automatically caused me to groan in pain and press against my head again.

"Pain. Headache. That's why." I ground out between my teeth. That sent Raph running, and before I knew it I had a bottle of water in my hand and two pills.

I swallowed them gratefully and slowly leaned backwards into the couch as the dark skinned turtle took a seat next to me in the dark.

"What are you doing up?" I asked him in a hushed voice. After all, it was the middle of the night. And we had all just been fighting for our lives that very night, so he had to be exhausted.

I could see him shrug,"Was hungry."

I let out a little hum and we sat in silence for a while. Kind of awkward, but not really. It was one of those "it's awkward if you make it awkward" things. Again, I let my head rest back, this time on the back of the couch. My eyes closed and I willed at that blasted headache to go away.

That is, until I became distracted by feeling two eyes burning a hole in the side of my face.

"Hey," One eye popped open to peer at him in the darkness,"Are you okay?"

He quickly adverted his gaze from mine, biting down on his lip in a harsh manner. He seemed to be struggling with what to say, but why? It was just me, and I already knew he wasn't okay. It was obvious, and after today, I'd be really surprised if he was okay.

Finally, he deflated and sighed. "No, I'm not okay." His eyes shifted to mine for a moment before he looked away again, bringing his hand to rub the nape of his neck.

"Talk to me then." I told him in a reassuring tone, sending a small smile his way. And just like that, the dam he had built up began to crumble away.

"I don't..." He sighed,"I'm not sure where to begin." I could almost see the distress coming off him in waves, the panic he felt on the inside almost radiating off him.

I reached over the small space between us and laid my hand down on his hand that laid clutching his knee tightly. Wrapping my fingers around his, I gave it a light squeeze, in hopes of calming him.

He sighed again and rubbed his free hand down his face before leaning back against the couch, shifting our hands so he could grip mine back.

"I'm... I'm scared." He said quietly, not looking at me. "You saw those Foot Ninja, you saw what they can do, and you saw what they did to us." He brought his eyes up to look at the bandage wrapped around my head.

"Just look what they did to you.. Look at what they did to all of us." His voice became choked, and he starred straight ahead at the blank TV screen.

"I've trained my whole life so that I could protect my brothers- protect my father- and I got taken down so fast. All of us did. What if... What if we can't beat them- The Shredder? What if everything we train for- everything we live for- is nothing?" His voice became horse by the end of it, dying off in a choked whisper. All the while he was talking, I was sitting in shock.

I knew Raphael wasn't one for pouring out his feelings, but he just did it. I did kind of ask him to, but I didn't really expect him to spill.. At least not that quickly.

"Raph..." I looked at the side of his head in absolute shock. Then, the sadness hit me.

They had gotten the spirit beat out of them, or at least Raphael did. If Raph felt like this, I couldn't begin to imagine what Leonardo was feeling- being the leader and all. But right now, that was none of my concern. Right now, Raphael was my concern.

"You're strong." I stated the fact with a sharp tone.

"All of you are: Leonardo, you, Donatello, Michelangelo, and Master Splinter. You've been fighting everyday, from day one. You fight to stay alive, and you're still here, so that means you didn't lose." I honestly didn't know what I was saying, and I was talking straight out of my brain, hoping I was saying the right things.

"The Shredder is strong, yeah." Raph's head snapped to look at me. "But he's just one man, Raph. One mean, murderous man, that has to and will be stopped because you are strong enough to do it."

"And I will take that to my grave." I finished firmly, squeezing Raphael's one hand between both of my own.

"It won't be easy..." Raph started to say, peering at me with an almost cautious look.

"But it's not impossible, Raph." I cut him off, looking him dead in the eyes. And that seemed to do the trick. Raphael deflated right before my eyes, almost all the tension leaving his body. I let a small smile grace my lips when he gave me half a smile.

A shaky one, but a smile nonetheless.

I was surprised when he released my hand and spread his arms apart, turning his body to face me.

"Come 're, toots." I let out a giggle and slowly maneuvered myself into his arms, careful of my sore body. He seemed to be aware of that as well since his arms wrapped around me loosely.

With a content sigh, and a whispered "thank you" from Raph, I knew we'd both be feeling better in the morning.

______________________________________________________________________________
GUESS WHO'S BACK
IT'S BEEN TOO LONG
WAAAYYY TOO LONG
does anyone even read this book anymore?? LOL.
I sure hope so because i'm gonna try to start updating again, seeing as i'm on summer vacation.
anywho...
vote if you enjoyed
comment for more!
also, tell me what you think! i'd appreciate it greatly.
until next time...
stay awesome guys!
{word count- 1310}